Potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico por estímulo clique: influência da idade e de indicadores de risco para a deficiência auditiva

Abstract

Purpose: to analyze the relationship between infants’ auditory brainstem response results and their corrected gestational age, considering prematurity and risk factors for hearing loss. Methods: a cross-sectional, observational study with 62 infants, divided into G1 (27 to 36 weeks) and G2 (37 to 41 weeks). After normal NHS results, the click-evoked ABR investigated the integrity of the auditory pathways and the electrophysiological threshold. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, as well as the association with the Mann-Whitney test and the correlation between electrophysiological threshold and corrected gestational age using the Spearman’s test with a significance level of 5%. Results: neither group had statistically significant different absolute latency values and interpeak intervals in the auditory pathway integrity study. The electrophysiological threshold study found a statistically significant difference between G1 and G2. Likewise, the difference between the electrophysiological threshold and the presence of risk factors for hearing loss and between the electrophysiological threshold and prematurity was statically significant. The electrophysiological threshold was weakly correlated with the corrected gestational age. Conclusion: the corrected gestational age in the study population did not influence the absolute latency parameters and interpeak intervals. However, the electrophysiological threshold was better in the group whose corrected gestational age was 37 or more weeks. Moreover, the presence of risk factors for hearing loss helped increase the electrophysiological threshold.